Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-13
A FABLE.
This Benevolent Owl.

For 9 long me after the creStion Of
animal life the owl and serpent were the
Wisest of the inhabitants of the earth,
and by the ex rcise of their superior rea-
soning faculties obtained and held IN
questioned the dominion of the world.
Though the elephant and lion were
possessed of greater strength and courage
they yielded passive obedience TO their
puny rulers, and while glorying
in their superb physical might,
contented themselves with the one
distinguishing quality they were endowed
with. So they bred and multiplied, but
SIS they cultivated only their thews and
sirews, these aIone were developed
through successive generations, and the
reign of the owl and serpent continued
u1broken fO- ages.
At length the owl, who though wise
Was benevolent, had compassion for the
others, and, seeking to ameliorate their
condition (for the stupid creatures,
though faithful to their hereditary rulers,
were ever al war with one enother), held
q conference with the serpent and, much
against the latter's alignment. deter
mined that their IeaI subjects should have
the benefits of education.
"For," quoth he, "the serpent
end never quarrel, we have dwelt to-
gether in perfect amity since we assembled
the throne; we are educated and cul-
tured ergo, if we cultivate the intellect
| OF the elephant and lion they, too, will
| be happy, and their causeless contentious
will ceSse and ours will be Joyous and
| blessed kingdom"
Thus argued the benevolentsowl,:s nd at
once turned pedagogue. All went
sWimmingly for while, and
the serpent was forced
! TO confess his error in opposing his con-
frere's benignant undertaking. The cle-
plant and lion "buried the Ratchet"
metaphorically, and dSy after day, arm in
arm, repaired to the ola red schoolhouse,
where they soon learned their letters,
much to the delight of their royal
! teSchers.
! The experiment WAS so successful that
st the close of the first winters session
the school board was of the unanimous
opinion that the good work should go on,
and it was accordingly decided that 6
thorough collegiate course should be ad
mir itered.
But alas alas! that such noble inten-
lions should be SO cruelty thWsrted, bu'
shall the truth of history be perverted
merely TO shield an honored name. No;
thousand times no; the plain, unVar.
nished truth shall be told, though q mil.
lion generations of misguided benevolent
owls may blush IN their graves. Before
the close of the second term trouble be-
gsn. The lion had become such prof
Gent in the srt of writing that he success
fully forged check for the elephant
trunk, the latter, dull, heavy conscien
tious fellow, did not detect the i'm
posture, though it became st ono
patent to the owl when tht
case was referred to him for aroitrament
He Immediately declared it aforgery-th'
lion knave, the elephant fool, the edu
cation of brutes failure, and the schoo
closed
Nor was this al, for the lion was g
lusty as ever before and his slight school
ing had developed his intellect; not much
but Just enough to teach him his physica
superiority to the owl, which he had be
fore been ignorant of, aud you msy b.
sure he was not long time awaiting him
self OF it. Within the year the cunnin
serpent and the benevolent owl were de
posed and the lion ruled king Of beasts.
MORAL.
Benevolence is 8 noble quality Of til
heart, but though ye be as gentle IS dove
, W should also be as wise as sezpents.
SHAwMUT.